DEF 14A of Cryoport, Inc.
Filed Apr 25, 2025 · FY20240001140361-25-015777
Nominees for Election
Nominees for Election The six nominees for election as directors are set forth as follows:
Nominees for Election
| Linda Baddour | Linda Baddour, age 66, became a member of our Board of Directors in March 2021 and serves as Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee, Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Ms. Baddour is an experienced senior executive with over twenty years of experience across healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Ms. Baddour has served on the board of directors of Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), a publicly traded analytical laboratory instrument and software company, since 2018, and Signant Health, since 2020. Ms. Baddour is currently serving as the audit committee chair of Waters Corporation. Ms, Baddour has also served on the board of directors of two private companies, Zeus, Inc. and Flourish Research, since 2025. Ms. Baddour also served on the board of directors of Advarra, a Genstar Capital portfolio company, from 2019 until its sale in 2022. From 2007 to 2018, Ms. Baddour served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PRA Health Sciences, Inc., a global contract research organization and data science company. During Ms. Baddour’s tenure, PRA Health Sciences grew from approximately 3,000 employees to over 17,000. From 1995 to 2007, Ms. Baddour worked at Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc., a contract research organization, serving in various roles, including as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer. Ms. Baddour earned both a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and is a CPA-retired. We believe Ms. Baddour’s financial and business expertise, including her background in global contract research organizations, financial leadership in mergers and acquisitions makes her well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. | | | | | Daniel M. Hancock | Daniel Hancock, age 74, became a member of our Board of Directors in January 2019 and serves as member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Scientific and Technology Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Hancock is currently President of DMH Strategic Consulting LLC. He retired from General Motors (“GM”) in 2011, after 43 years of service in GM’s powertrain engineering and general management functions. His last position with GM was Vice President, Global Strategic Product Alliances. During this period, he served as Chair of GM’s DMAX and VM Motori diesel engine joint ventures with Isuzu and Fiat, respectively. Mr. Hancock’s previous appointments at GM included: Vice President, Global Powertrain Engineering; CEO, Fiat-GM Powertrain; and President, Allison Transmission Division. Mr. Hancock had full functional responsibility for the global operations of Fiat-GM Powertrain and Allison Transmission Division during his assignments there. Mr. Hancock is Chair of the Board of Westport Fuel Systems (NASDAQ: WPRT), a Vancouver, B.C. based global supplier of clean gaseous fuel parts, and systems for the transportation industry. He is also serving as chair of the board of SuperTurbo Technologies, Inc., a privately-held developer of advanced turbo compounding systems for engines. In addition, Mr. Hancock serves in an advisory capacity to several global suppliers to the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. He was President of SAE International in 2014 and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a bachelor’s degree also in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), Michigan. We believe Mr. Hancock’s global business experience, strong business acumen, and extensive manufacturing and engineering expertise qualifies him well to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. | | | |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 18 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | Dr. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., age 65, became a member of our Board of Directors in September 2015 and serves as Chair of the Scientific and Technology Committee and member of the Nomination and Governance Committee of our Board of Directors. Dr. Hariri is a visionary surgeon, scientist, aviator and entrepreneur and serves as the Founder, Chair and CEO of Celularity, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELU). Previously, he served as the CEO of the Cellular Therapeutics Division of Celgene Corporation from 2005 to 2013. Prior to joining Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, Dr. Hariri was founder, chair and chief scientific officer at Anthrogenesis Corporation, a privately held biomedical technology and service corporation involved in the area of human stem cell therapeutics, which was acquired by Celgene in 2002. Dr. Hariri also co-founded the genomic-based health intelligence company, Human Longevity, Inc. Dr. Hariri is an Adjunct Professor of Neurosurgery and member of the Board of Overseers of the Weill Cornell Medical College and is a former member of the Board of Visitors of the Columbia University School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and the Science & Technology Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is also a member of the X Prize Foundation scientific advisory board for the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics. Dr. Hariri is also a Trustee and vice-chair of the Liberty Science Center. In addition to Cryoport, Dr. Hariri has served as a member of the board of directors of various companies, including Myos Corporation from July 2011 to November 2020, where he served as Chair of the board from April 2012 to November 2020, Bionik Laboratories Corp. from March 2015 to October 2017, and Bio Vie Inc. from June 2020 to March 2025. He has pioneered the use of stem cells to treat a range of life-threatening diseases and has over 170 issued and pending patents, has authored over 150 published chapters, articles and abstracts and is most recognized for his discovery of pluripotent stem cells from the placenta as a member of the team which discovered TNF (tumor necrosis factor). A jet-rated commercial pilot with thousands of hours of flight time in over 60 different military and civilian aircraft, Dr. Hariri is a founder of Jet-A Aviation, a heavy-jet charter airline. | | | | | | Dr. Hariri received his undergraduate training at Columbia College and Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and was awarded his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Hariri received his surgical training at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center where he also co-directed the Aitken Laboratory in Neurosurgery. We believe Dr. Hariri’s training as a scientist, his knowledge and experience with respect to the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries and his extensive research and experience makes him well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 19 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Ram M. Jagannath | Ram M. Jagannath, age 48, became a member of our Board of Directors in October 2020. Mr. Jagannath is the Global Head of Healthcare for Blackstone, responsible for investing across Blackstone’s Private Equity, Tactical Opportunities and Growth businesses, based in New York. Since joining Blackstone in 2019, Mr. Jagannath has led Blackstone’s investments in HealthEdge, Burgess Group, Bright Health, Cryoport, Inc., ZO Skin Health, Altruista Health, Ginger, Hydrogen Health, Wellframe, Medable, Life Science Logistics, and DNAnexus and was involved in Blackstone’s investments in Alnylam/inclisiran royalty, Precision Medicine Group, and Advarra. He is also a member of the Blackstone Growth Investment Committee and Chair of the Portfolio Committee. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Jagannath was a founding Partner of Navab Capital Partners (NCP), where he was Head of Healthcare and a member of NCP’s Management and Investment Committees. Prior to NCP, he was a Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, focused on healthcare investments in Carlyle’s flagship US Buyout private equity fund. During his twelve years at Carlyle, Mr. Jagannath was a member of the teams which invested in One Medical Group, Pharmaceutical Product Development, X-Chem, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Healthscope Ltd., and HCR ManorCare. Previously, he worked at Genstar Capital and Thomas Weisel Capital Partners. Mr. Jagannath currently serves on the board of directors of HealthEdge, Cryoport, Inc., ZO Skin Health, Headspace Health and Life Science Logistics and as a Board Observer of Medable and ConnectiveRx. He also serves on the Board of Visitors of the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering and on the Kellogg School of Management Private Equity Advisory Council, as well as on the Board of the Navy SEAL Foundation. Mr. Jagannath was previously a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and GrowthCap’s Top 25 Healthcare Investors. Mr. Jagannath received a B.S.E. in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering with a minor in Economics from Duke University, a J.D. from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and an M.B.A. from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. After Duke, he was a Fulbright Scholar in Economic Development at the University of Zagreb in Croatia. We believe Mr. Jagannath’s experience in the healthcare industry, in mergers and acquisitions, and his background in engineering make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. For additional information regarding Mr. Jagannath’s nomination, see “—Corporate Governance Structure and Function—What are the nominating procedures and criteria?—Blackstone Nominee.” | | | |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 20 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Ramkumar Mandalam, Ph.D. | Dr. Mandalam, age 60, became a member of our Board of Directors in June 2014 and serves as Lead Director, Chair of the Compensation Committee and member of the Nomination and Governance Committee, Audit Committee and the Science and Technology Committee of our Board of Directors. Dr. Mandalam is currently the Founder and CEO of Citra BioConsulting Inc., a consulting firm providing services to the cell and gene therapy industry. Prior to founding Citra BioConsulting in 2021, he was the CEO, President and board member of Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel cell-based and antibody therapies for cancer treatment and blood-related disorders. Under his leadership, Cellerant developed a pipeline of candidates for treatment of hematological malignancies and rapidly expanded from an early-stage to an advanced clinical-stage company. Prior to joining Cellerant in 2005, he was the Executive Director of Product Development at Geron Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company where he managed the development and manufacturing of cell-based therapies for treatment of degenerative diseases and cancer. From 1994 to 2000, he held various positions in research and development at Aastrom Biosciences, where he was responsible for programs involving ex vivo expansion of human bone marrow stem cells and dendritic cells. In addition to serving on the Board, Dr. Mandalam serves on the Commercial advisory board of NSF center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT). Dr. Mandalam received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Mandalam is the author or co-author of several publications, patent applications, and abstracts. We believe Dr. Mandalam’s training as a scientist, extensive background in biotechnology and management expertise makes him well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors and Lead Director. | | | | | Jerrell W. Shelton | Jerrell W. Shelton, age 78, became a member of our Board of Directors in October 2012 and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in November 2012. He was appointed Chair of the Board in October 2015. He served on the board of directors and standing committees of Solera Holdings, Inc. from April 2007 through November 2011. From June 2004 to May 2006, Mr. Shelton was the Chair and CEO of Wellness, Inc., a provider of advanced, integrated hospital and clinical environments. Prior to that, he served as Visiting Executive to IBM Research and Head of IBM’s WebFountain. From October 1998 to October 1999, Mr. Shelton was Chair, President and CEO of NDC Holdings II, Inc. Between October 1996 and July 1998, he was President and CEO of Continental Graphics Holdings, Inc. And, from October 1991 to July 1996, Mr. Shelton served as President and CEO of Thomson Business Information Group. Mr. Shelton has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. We believe Mr. Shelton’s extensive leadership, management, strategic planning and financial expertise through his various leadership and directorship roles in public, private and global companies, makes him well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. | | | |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 21 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
Directors are elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares for which votes are cast. The six nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast “FOR” the election of such nominees shall be elected as directors. Votes withheld and broker non-votes as to the election of directors will not be counted in determining which nominees received the largest number of votes cast. Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES.
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 22 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Corporate Governance and Board Matters | |
Nominees for Election
| How Often Did The Board Meet During 2024? | During 2024, there were five meetings of the Board, as well as several actions taken with the unanimous written consent of the Board with informal discussions and communication prior to the execution of such consents, but without a meeting. In 2024, each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and committees on which such director served (during the periods for which the director served on the Board and such committees). The Company does not have a written policy requiring directors to attend its annual meeting of stockholders. Last year, one director, Mr. Shelton, attended our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. | | Do We Have Independent Directors? | Our Board is responsible for determining the independence of our directors. For purposes of determining director independence, our Board has applied the definitions set forth in NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2) and the related rules of the SEC. Based upon its evaluation, our Board has affirmatively determined that the following directors meet the standards of independence: Mr. Hancock, Dr. Hariri, Dr. Mandalam, Mr. Jagannath and Ms. Baddour. Mr. Zecchini, who retired from the Board in February 2024, and Mr. Berman, who passed away in February 2025, were previously determined to be independent by the Board as well. | | What Committees has the Board established? | Our Board has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nomination and Governance Committee and a Science and Technology Committee. Charters for each of these committees are available on the Company’s website at www.cryoportinc.com on the “Governance: Governance Documents” page under the heading “Investor Relations.” Information on the website does not constitute a part of this Proxy Statement. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 23 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| | Chairperson | | Member |
Nominees for Election
| NAME | AUDIT COMMITTEE | COMPENSATION COMMITTEE | NOMINATION AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE | SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE | | Linda Baddour | | | | | | Daniel M. Hancock | | | | | | Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | | | | | | Ram Jagannath | | | | | | Ramkumar Mandalam, Ph.D. | | | | | | Jerrell Shelton | | | | |
Nominees for Election
| Audit Committee | The functions of the Audit Committee are to (i) review the qualifications of the independent auditors, our annual and interim financial statements, the independent auditor’s report, significant reporting or operating issues and corporate policies and procedures as they relate to accounting and financial controls; and (ii) consider and review other matters relating to our financial and accounting affairs. The current members of the Audit Committee are Ms. Baddour, who is the Audit Committee Chair, Mr. Hancock and Dr. Mandalam. The Company has determined that Ms. Baddour qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the rules of the SEC. Additionally, the Company has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” under SEC and NASDAQ rules applicable to audit committee members, as well as meets NASDAQ’s financial literacy and financial sophistication requirements. During 2024, the Audit Committee held five meetings. In addition, the Audit Committee regularly held discussions regarding the consolidated financial statements of the Company during Board meetings. |
Nominees for Election
| Compensation Committee | The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to discharge the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of the Company’s directors and executive officers, to produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement, as necessary, and to oversee and advise the Board on the adoption of policies that govern the Company’s compensation programs including stock incentive and benefit plans. The current members of the Compensation Committee are Dr. Mandalam, who is the Compensation Committee Chair, Mr. Hancock and Ms. Baddour, each of whom is “independent” under SEC and NASDAQ rules applicable to compensation committee members. Each of the current members of the Compensation Committee is a “non-employee director” under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. During 2024, the Compensation Committee held five meetings. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 24 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Nomination & Governance Committee | The functions of the Nomination and Governance Committee are to (i) make recommendations to the Board regarding the size of the Board, (ii) make recommendations to the Board regarding criteria for the selection of director nominees, (iii) identify and recommend to the Board for selection as director nominees individuals qualified to become members of the Board, (iv) recommend committee assignments to the Board, (v) recommend to the Board corporate governance principles and practices appropriate to the Company, (vi) provide oversight over the Company’s sustainability efforts as formalized in its ESG Program, and (vii) lead the Board in an annual review of its performance. The current members of the Nomination and Governance Committee are Ms. Baddour, who is the Nomination and Governance Committee Chair, Dr. Hariri and Dr. Mandalam. During 2024, the Nomination and Governance Committee held five meetings. |
Nominees for Election
| Science & Technology Committee | The functions of the Science and Technology Committee are to oversee matters pertaining to the Company’s strategic direction as related to products, systems and services serving the Company’s client businesses and investments in research and development and technology relating to the same. The current members of the Science and Technology Committee are Dr. Hariri, who is the Science and Technology Committee Chair, Mr. Hancock and Dr. Mandalam. During 2024, the Science and Technology Committee held two meetings. |
Nominees for Election
| What are the nominating procedures and criteria? | Director Qualifications. The Nomination and Governance Committee believes that persons nominated to the Board should have personal integrity and high ethical character. Candidates should not have any interests that would materially impair his or her ability to exercise independent judgment or otherwise discharge the fiduciary duties owed by a director to the Company and its stockholders. Candidates must be able to represent fairly and equally all stockholders of the Company without favoring any particular stockholder group or other constituency of the Company and must be prepared to devote adequate time to the Board and its committees. Identifying Director Candidates. The Nomination and Governance Committee utilizes a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees to serve as directors when vacancies occur. The Nomination and Governance Committee has a policy of re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the committee’s criteria for membership and whom the Nomination and Governance Committee believes continue to make important contributions to the Board and who consent to continue their service on the Board In filling vacancies of the Board, the Nomination and Governance Committee will solicit recommendations for nominees from the persons the committee believes are likely to be familiar with (i) the needs of the Company and (ii) qualified candidates. These persons may include members of the Board and management of the Company. The Nomination and Governance Committee may also engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates. In evaluating potential nominees, the Nomination and Governance Committee will oversee the collection of information concerning the background and qualifications of the candidate and determine whether the candidate satisfies the |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 25 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| qualifications required by the committee for election as director and whether the candidate possesses any of the specific skills or qualities that under the Board’s policies must be possessed by one or more members of the Board. The Nomination and Governance Committee’s written policy on Board diversity provides that, when evaluating potential candidates for nomination, it will consider all aspects of each candidate’s qualifications and skills in the context of the needs of the Company at that point in time with a view to creating a Board with diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, education, cultural background, viewpoints, skills, perspectives, professional experiences and other differentiating characteristics. The Nomination and Governance Committee also considers the results of the vote of the stockholders on the election of directors and stockholder engagement on diversity issues. While there can be no assurance such candidates will emerge, it is in the best interest of the Company, as a global provider of logistics services to the life sciences industry, to embrace the richness of diversity whenever possible. The Nomination and Governance Committee will make its selections based on all the available information and relevant considerations. The Nomination and Governance Committee’s selection will be based on who, in the view of the committee, will be best suited for membership on the Board. Stockholder Nominees. The Nomination and Governance Committee will consider director nominee recommendations by stockholders, provided the names of such nominees, accompanied by relevant biographical information, are properly submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company in accordance with the manner described for stockholder nominations under the heading “Stockholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting.” In making its selection, the Nomination and Governance Committee will evaluate candidates proposed by stockholders under criteria similar to other candidates, except that the committee may consider, as one of the factors in its evaluation, the size and duration of the interest of the recommending stockholder in the stock of the Company. The Nomination and Governance Committee may also consider the extent to which the recommending stockholder intends to continue to hold its interest in the Company, including whether the recommending stockholder intends to continue holding its interest at least through the time of the meeting at which the candidate is to be elected. The Secretary will forward all validly submitted recommendations to the Nomination and Governance Committee. The acceptance of a recommendation from a stockholder does not imply that the Nomination and Governance Committee will recommend to the Board the nomination of the stockholder recommended candidate. Blackstone Nominee. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into in connection with the issuance and sale of our Series C Preferred Stock, for so long as the Purchaser Parties (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) hold 66.67% of the Series C Preferred Stock issued to them under the Securities Purchase Agreement, Blackstone Freeze Parent (as defined elsewhere in this Proxy Statement) has the right to nominate for election one member to the Board. Blackstone Freeze Parent has designated Mr. Jagannath as its nominee. For additional information, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in this Proxy Statement. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 26 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| How is the Board structured? | Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Chair of the Board presides at meetings of the Board. The Chair of the Board is currently the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shelton. | | CHAIR | The Board has determined that its current structure, with a combined Chair and Chief Executive Officer, is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board believes that combining the Chair and Chief Executive Officer positions is currently the most effective leadership structure for the Company given Mr. Shelton’s in-depth knowledge of the Company’s technology, business and industry, and his ability to formulate and implement strategic initiatives. Further, Mr. Shelton is intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of the Company and is thus in a position to elevate the most critical business issues for consideration by the independent directors of the Board. | | LEAD DIRECTOR | The Board appointed Dr. Mandalam as the Lead Director in February 2025. Dr. Mandalam’s appointment follows the passing of Richard Berman, who served as our Lead Director for ten years. Among other responsibilities, the Lead Director presides over regularly scheduled meetings at which only our independent directors are present, serves as a liaison between the Chair and Chief Executive Officer and the independent directors, and performs such additional duties as our Board may otherwise determine and delegate. We believe the appointment of a Lead Director, the independent nature of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nomination and Governance Committee, as well as the practice of the independent directors regularly meeting in executive session without Mr. Shelton and the other members of the Company’s management present, ensures that the Board maintains a level of independent oversight of management that is appropriate for the Company. | | Are there any family relationships among the directors and the executive officers? | There are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers. | | What is the Board’s role in risk oversight? | The Board oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management that is designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives to improve long-term performance and enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. In setting the Company’s business strategy, the Board assesses the various risks being mitigated by management and determines what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the Company. While the Board has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of the Board also have responsibility for risk management. In particular, the Audit Committee focuses on financial risk, which includes internal controls and cybersecurity risks, and receives financial risk assessment reports from management. Risks related to the compensation |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 27 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| | programs are reviewed by the Compensation Committee. The Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for governance risk, including oversight of the Company’s policies on avoidance of conflicts of interest, insider trading, and management succession. The Board is advised by these committees of significant risks and management’s response via periodic updates. | | DOES THE COMPANY HAVE AN INSIDER TRADING POLICY? | Yes, the Board has adopted an insider trading policy (the “Insider Trading and Tipping Policy”) that governs the purchase, sale, and other dispositions of our securities by our directors, officers, and employees. We believe our Insider Trading and Tipping Policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and the Nasdaq listing standards. A copy of our Insider Trading and Tipping Policy was filed as Exhibit 19 to the 2024 Annual Report. | | DOES THE COMPANY HAVE A POLICY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF other BOARDs that A DIRECTOR may serve on? | Yes, the Board has adopted a policy on other directorships and significant activities, commonly referred to as an overboarding policy, to help ensure that each director has sufficient time to devote to serving on the Board. In accordance with this policy, without specific approval from the Board, (i) a director may not serve on more than three public company boards of directors (including the Board); and (ii) no director that also serves as an executive officer or equivalent position of a public company may serve on more than two public company boards of directors (including the Board). | | How can stockholders communicate with the Board? | The Board encourages stockholders to send communications about bona fide issues concerning the Company to the Board or specified members through its Nomination and Governance Committee. All such communications, except those related to stockholder proposals discussed under the heading “Stockholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting,” must be sent to the Nomination and Governance Committee Chair at the Company’s offices at 112 Westwood Place, Suite 350, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027. Any such communication will be promptly distributed to the director or directors named therein unless such communication is considered, either presumptively or in the reasonable judgment of the Nomination and Governance Committee Chair, to be improper for submission to the intended recipient or recipients. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 28 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Ownership of Securities | |
Nominees for Election
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock and Series C Preferred Stock as of April 14, 2025 by (i) each person or group of affiliated persons known to the Company to beneficially own 5% or more of its common stock or Series C Preferred Stock, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) each of our directors and (iv) and all of our current executive officers and directors as a group. Percentage of beneficial ownership is calculated based on (i) 50,137,218 shares of common stock and (ii) 200,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, which are convertible into 6,246,154 shares of common stock within 60 days of April 14, 2025. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC which generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities and includes shares of our common stock issuable within 60 days of April 14, 2025 pursuant to the exercise, conversion or vesting of stock options, preferred stock, restricted stock rights (“RSRs”) or other securities, applicable. To calculate a stockholder’s percentage of beneficial ownership of common stock, we include in the numerator and denominator those shares of common stock underlying options, RSRs and convertible securities that such stockholder is considered to beneficially own. Shares of common stock underlying options, RSRs and convertible securities held by other stockholders, however, are disregarded in this calculation. Therefore, the denominator used in calculating beneficial ownership of each of the stockholders may be different.
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 29 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
Unless otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table have sole voting and sole investment control with respect to all shares beneficially owned. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each person is c/o Cryoport, Inc., 112 Westwood Place, Suite 350, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027.
Nominees for Election
| Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned | Number of Shares of Series C Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares of Series C Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned | | Named Executive Officers and Directors: | | | | | | Jerrell W. Shelton | 3,005,827(1) | 5.7% | — | — | | Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 268,913(1) | * | — | — | | Ramkumar Mandalam, Ph.D. | 337,849(1) | * | — | — | | Daniel Hancock | 158,840(1) | * | — | — | | Ram M. Jagannath | — | — | — | — | | Linda Baddour | 100,237(1) | * | — | — | | Robert S. Stefanovich | 837,457(1) | 1.7% | — | — | | Mark W. Sawicki, Ph.D. | 356,924(1) | * | — | — | | Edward J. Zecchini | 307,524(1) | * | | | | All directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons) | 5,373,571(1) | 10.0% | — | — | | Other Stockholders: | | | | | | Entities affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. | 6,699,550(2) | 13.4% | 200,000(3) | 100% | | Brown Capital Management LLC | 4,458,774(3) | 8.9% | — | — | | Entities Affiliated with Morgan Stanley | 4,141,522(4) | 8.3% | | | | The Vanguard Group | 2,838,903(5) | 5.7% | — | — | | BlackRock, Inc. | 3,568,644(6) | 7.1% | — | — | | Entities Affiliated with Cadian Capital Management, LP | 4,927,027(7) | 9.8% | — | — | | Alger Associates, Inc. | 2,566,937(8) | 5.1% | — | — | | Entities Affiliated with Integrated Core Strategies (US) LLC | 3,730,516(9) | 7.4% | — | — |
Nominees for Election
| * Represents less than 1% |
Nominees for Election
| (1) Includes shares which individuals shown above have the right to acquire as of April 14, 2025, or within 60 days thereafter, pursuant to outstanding stock options and unvested RSR’s as follows: Mr. Shelton — 2,304,903 shares; Dr. Hariri — 261,197 shares; Dr. Mandalam 291,197 shares; Mr. Hancock — 136,197 shares, Ms. Baddour — 78,547 shares, Mr. Stefanovich — 504,261 shares, Dr. Sawicki — 293,990 shares and Mr. Zecchini — 51,070 shares. With respect to Mr. Stefanovich, also includes 165,000 shares held by the Jerrell W. Shelton 2021 GST Exempt Trust, over which Mr. Stefanovich has sole voting and dispositive power. |
Nominees for Election
| (2) Represents (x) 443,057 shares of common stock and 195,439 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, which are convertible into 6,103,710 shares of common stock, directly held by Blackstone Freeze Parent L.P. and (y) 10,339 shares of common stock and 4,561 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, which are convertible into 142,444 shares of common stock, directly held by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund—FD L.P. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 30 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates III – NQ L.P. is the general partner of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund – FD L.P. BTO DE GP – NQ L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates III – NQ L.P. Blackstone Holdings II L.P. is the managing member of BTO DE GP – NQ L.L.C. Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Holdings II L.P. BTO Holdings Manager L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Freeze Parent L.P. Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates L.L.C. is the managing member of BTO Holdings Manager L.L.C. BTOA L.L.C. is the sole member of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates L.L.C. Blackstone Holdings III L.P. is the managing member of BTOA L.L.C. Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P. is the general partner of Blackstone Holdings III L.P. Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P. Blackstone Inc. is the sole member of each of Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. and Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C. The sole holder of the Series II preferred stock of Blackstone Inc. is Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. is wholly-owned by Blackstone’s senior managing directors and controlled by its founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman. Each of the Blackstone entities described in this footnote and Stephen A. Schwarzman (other than to the extent it or he directly holds securities as described herein) may be deemed to beneficially own the securities directly or indirectly controlled by such Blackstone entities or him, but each disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. The address of each of the entities listed in this footnote and Mr. Schwarzman is c/o The Blackstone Group Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.
Nominees for Election
| (3) According to the Schedule 13G/A filed by Brown Capital Management, LLC on February 14, 2025, the shares reported are beneficially owned by Brown Capital Management, LLC, which has the sole voting power with respect to 2,115,018 shares, shared voting power with respect to 0 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 4,458,774 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 0 shares. The address for Brown Capital Management, LLC is 1201 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. |
Nominees for Election
| (4) According to the Schedule 13G filed by Morgan Stanley on February 8, 2024, the shares reported are beneficially owned by Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC. Morgan Stanley has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 4,088,185 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 4,141,522 shares. Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 4,005,390 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 4,005,390 shares. The address for these entities is 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. |
Nominees for Election
| (5) According to the Schedule 13G/A filed by The Vanguard Group on November 12, 2024, the shares reported are beneficially owned by The Vanguard Group, which has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 70,460 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 2,726,546 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 112,357 shares. The address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355. |
Nominees for Election
| (6) According to the Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. on January 26, 2024, the shares reported are beneficially owned by BlackRock, Inc., which has the sole voting power with respect to 3,493,288 shares, shared voting power with respect to 0 shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to 3,568,644 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 0 shares. The shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Advisors, LLC, Aperio Group, LLC, BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, National Association, BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG, BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Fund Advisors, and BlackRock Fund Managers Ltd. The address for BlackRock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. |
Nominees for Election
| (7) According to the Schedule 13G/A filed by Cadian Capital Management, LP on February 13, 2025, the shares reported are beneficially owned by Cadian Capital Management LP, Cadian Capital Management GP, LLC, and Eric Bannasch, which each has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 4,927,027 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 4,927,027 shares. The address for these entities is 535 Madison Avenue, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10022. |
Nominees for Election
| (8) According to the Schedule 13G/A filed by Alger Associates, Inc. on February 14, 2025, the shares reported are beneficially owned by Alger Associates, Inc., which has the sole voting power with respect to 2,566,937 shares, shared voting power with respect to 0 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 2,566,937 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 0 shares. Such shares are also reported to be beneficially owned by one or more open-end investment companies or other managed accounts that are investment management clients of Fred Alger Management, LLC (“FAM”), a registered investment adviser. FAM is a wholly owned subsidiary of AlgerGroup Holdings, LLC (“AGH”), a holding company. AGH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alger Associates, Inc., a holding company. The address for Alger Associates, Inc. is 100 Pearl Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004. |
Nominees for Election
| (9) According to the Schedule 13G filed by Integrated Core Strategies (US) LLC on October 16, 2024, the shares reported are beneficially owned by Integrated Core Strategies (US) LLC, Millennium Management LLC, Millennium Group Management LLC, and Israel A. Englander. Integrated Core Strategies (US) LLC has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 3,711,996 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,711,996 shares. Millennium Management LLC has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 3,730,516 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,730,516 shares. Millennium Group Management LLC has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 3,730,516 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,730,516 shares. Israel A. Englander has the sole voting power with respect to 0 shares, shared voting power with respect to 3,730,516 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,730,516 shares. The address for these entities is 399 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022. |
Nominees for Election
| Cryoport Inc | 31 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Nominees for Election
| Proposal 2 To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2025 | |
Nominees for Election
The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025. The Board, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, has ratified the selection of Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2025, subject to ratification by the stockholders. Deloitte served in this capacity for the year ended December 31, 2024, and has reported on the Company’s December 31, 2024 consolidated financial statements. There were no disagreements between the Company and Deloitte on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure. Representatives of Deloitte are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting virtually with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. Stockholder ratification of the selection of Deloitte as the Company’s independent auditors is not required by our Amended and Restated Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board is submitting the selection of Deloitte to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Compensation Program Overview
| • | annual cash incentive compensation that motivates the executive officers to lead and manage the business to meet the Company’s short-and long-term objectives of responsibly delivering targeted Total Stockholder Return (TSR); |
Compensation Program Overview
| • | performance-based stock options that align executives with stockholders through gains in equity value (exercise price is set 10% higher than our closing stock price on the date of grant) and encourages retention and motivates long-term thinking to respond to the Company’s business challenges through time-based vesting over four years; and |
Compensation Program Overview
| • | restricted stock rights (RSRs) awards that align executives’ interest with stockholders’ interest through equity ownership to ensure that its executive officers are motivated over the long-term to respond to the Company’s business challenges and opportunities as owners and not just as employees through time-based vesting over a four-year period. |
Compensation Program Overview
| • | “At-risk” compensation focuses executives on achievement of short- and long-term goals. The Company’s executive compensation program is primarily performance-based, for both short-term incentives (annual cash bonuses) and long-term incentives (equity awards). In 2024, a majority of the primary compensation (base salary, annual equity awards and target cash bonuses under our Management Incentive Plan, in each case as reflected in the “Salary,” “Stock Awards,” “Option Awards,” columns of the 2024 Summary Compensation Table and in the “Target Bonus” column of the “2024 Bonus Calculations”) of our Chief Executive Officer and our other NEOs was variable (approximately 60.7% and 50.2%, respectively), based on performance or stock price. |
Compensation Program Overview
| • | Short-term cash incentives should be based on objective, measurable goals to drive the achievement of strong annual performance. For 2024, under the Management Incentive Plan (the “Bonus Plan”), our Chief Executive Officer and other NEOs were eligible for target cash bonuses equal to 100% and 60% of base salary, respectively, that could be earned at 0-150% of target based on performance against annual revenue (40% weighting), adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) (40% weighting), and individual (20% weighting) goals, except with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, whose incentive payout is calculated based solely on the annual revenue goal and annual Adjusted EBITDA goal to closely align his compensation with the Company’s performance, which results in 50% of his bonus opportunity being based on an annual revenue goal and 50% being based on an Adjusted EBITDA goal. |
Compensation Program Overview
| • | A majority of long-term incentives should be performance-based. More than 50% of our long-term incentive value was granted in the form of performance-based stock options for 2024. In 2024, long-term incentive compensation value for our Chief Executive Officer was comprised of approximately 56% performance-based stock options and 44% RSRs and for our other NEOs was comprised of approximately 53% performance-based stock options and 47% RSRs. The performance-based stock options have an exercise price that is 10% higher than our closing stock price on the date of grant, thus requiring achievement of a 10% stock price increase before the stock options begin to have realizable value to the executives, subject to the service-based vesting conditions. |
Positive Executive Compensation Practices
| Process for Determining Executive Compensation | The Compensation Committee has the sole authority and responsibility to review and determine, or recommend to the Board for determination, the compensation package of our Chief Executive Officer and other NEOs. The Compensation Committee considers a number of factors in setting compensation for its executive officers, including Company performance, the executive’s functional performance, leadership, experience and responsibilities, and the compensation of executive officers in similar positions in our peer group of companies. The Compensation Committee also considers our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations as to the executive officers’ compensation (other than his own) based on his review of the performance of our executive officers and as to the performance goals of the Bonus Plan. Say-on-Pay and Stockholder Engagement As part of the Compensation Committee’s annual review of the executive compensation program, it considers the outcome of the annual advisory vote of stockholders. At the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 98% of the “say-on-pay” votes cast were in favor of the compensation of the Company’s NEOs in 2023. During 2024, senior management of the Company presented and participated in fourteen investor conferences and non-deal roadshows. Also, after every quarterly earnings call, we arrange conference calls with our top stockholders and all of the analysts covering our Company. The Company believes these discussions help further align the Company’s interests with the best interests of its stockholders. Independent Consultant; Peer Group and Benchmarking The Compensation Committee has the authority to directly retain the services of independent consultants and other experts to assist in fulfilling its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee has engaged Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FW Cook”) from time-to-time since 2016 to review our executive compensation programs and to assess our executive officers’ base salaries, incentive opportunities, target and actual total cash, long-term incentive value and total direct compensation from a competitive standpoint. For each fiscal year, including 2024, the Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of FW Cook pursuant to SEC rules and the corporate governance rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent FW Cook from independently advising the Compensation Committee. FW Cook has assisted the Compensation Committee in defining the appropriate market of our peer companies for executive compensation and practices and in benchmarking our executive compensation program against the peer group. In late 2022, FW Cook provided the Compensation Committee with an analysis of base salary, target bonus, target total cash, long-term incentive value and design and target total compensation for executives of comparable healthcare technology, life sciences tools and services, biotechnology, application software, data processing, and logistics companies serving the life sciences and biotechnology industries. In performing this analysis, FW Cook used a peer group of 15 companies, which was reviewed and approved by our Compensation Committee. |
Positive Executive Compensation Practices
The Compensation Committee considered peer group compensation data when setting 2024 target compensation for Company executives. The Compensation Committee uses the peer group compensation data as one of several factors in determining appropriate compensation parameters for base salary, variable cash compensation and equity-based, long-term incentives. The Compensation Committee’s executive compensation decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, and specific benchmark results do not, in and of themselves, determine individual target compensation decisions. The Compensation Committee anticipates that it will continue to conduct similar reviews of our executive compensation practices and use independent outside consultants for similar services in the future.
Executive Compensation
| Elements of Executive Compensation | Compensation for executives consists of three principal components: base salary, potential annual cash incentive bonus, and long-term incentives. Base Salary Base salary represents the fixed portion of an executive officer’s compensation and is intended to provide compensation for day-to-day performance. The Compensation Committee believes that a competitive base salary is a necessary element of any compensation program that is designed to attract and retain talented and experienced executives. Each executive officer’s base salary is initially determined upon hire or promotion based on the executive officer’s responsibilities, prior experience, individual compensation history and salary levels of other executives within the Company and similarly situated executives within our peer group. Base salary is typically reviewed annually. The Compensation Committee believes that the base salaries paid to our executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 achieved the Company’s compensation objectives. Base salaries for the NEOs for 2023 and 2024 are as follows: |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses For 2024, as in prior years, executives were eligible for bonuses under the Bonus Plan, a formal incentive plan with pre-established goals and weightings, which was designed to reward achievements based upon quantitative Company and individual performance. Per the Bonus Plan, the Company’s executive officers, and certain other non-executive officers, may be eligible to receive a cash bonus expressed as a percentage of their base salary in the event the Company achieves certain business metrics and the attainment of personal strategic objectives. Forty percent (40%) of the bonus opportunity is based on an annual revenue goal (the “Revenue Goal”); forty percent (40%) of the bonus opportunity is based on an annual Adjusted EBITDA goal (the “Adjusted EBITDA Goal”) and, collectively with the Revenue Goal, the “Base Financial Goals”); and twenty percent (20%) of the bonus opportunity is based on the attainment of personal strategic objectives, with such personal strategic objectives determined by the Compensation Committee; provided that the Chief Executive Officer’s incentive payout is calculated based solely on the Base Financial Goals, which results in 50% of his bonus opportunity being based on the Revenue Goal and 50% of his bonus opportunity being based on Adjusted EBITDA Goal. Under the Bonus Plan, Adjusted EBITDA is the adjusted
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Cryoport Inc | 45 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization calculated in the manner reported by the Company in its public filings with the SEC. As the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shelton is responsible for developing company strategy and overseeing all of the Company’s corporate functions, global commercial activities and engineering and development initiatives. Because of his role and responsibilities, Mr. Shelton’s incentive payout is calculated based solely on the Base Financial Goals to closely align his compensation with the Company’s financial performance. The Compensation Committee chose revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as Base Financial Goals because it currently views these to be the best measures of the Company’s annual performance. Bonuses can be earned at 0-150% of target, based on actual performance. Performance below the threshold level results in a 0% payout with respect to the applicable goal. The annual cash incentive compensation earned by each executive officer is determined by the Compensation Committee after the end of each fiscal year and is calculated as a percentage of the executive officer’s target annual cash incentive compensation. The Company establishes the target amount payable under the Bonus Plan for executive officers at a level that represents a meaningful portion of the executive officers’ cash compensation. In establishing these levels, in addition to considering the incentives that the Company wants to provide to the executive officers, it also considers the annual target cash incentive compensation levels for comparable positions within our peer group and our own historical practices. The Compensation Committee established Mr. Shelton’s bonus opportunity for 2024 at 100% of his base salary and Mr. Stefanovich’s, Dr. Sawicki’s and Mr. Zecchini’s bonus opportunity at 60% of their base salaries, in each case consistent with the prior year opportunity as a percentage of base salary, with the exception of Mr. Zecchini who joined the Company as an executive in 2024. Plan Protocol The Compensation Committee administers the Bonus Plan:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| 1. | At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Chief Executive Officer, with assistance from senior management, proposes Base Financial Goals and other personal strategic objectives (for executives other than himself) tied to individual results, measurement criteria and weightings, subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee. |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| 2. | At the beginning of the following fiscal year, the Chief Executive Officer evaluates performance levels and the achievement of the established Base Financial Goals and personal strategic objectives for all executive officers except for himself, which are subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee. Specific bonus award recommendations for all participants (except the Chief Executive Officer) are submitted by the Chief Executive Officer to the Compensation Committee for review. |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Cryoport Inc | 46 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| 3. | The Compensation Committee determines the bonus awards for individual participants based on the target amount payable under the Bonus Plan for such participant, the Company’s performance against the Base Financial Goals and the attainment of the participant’s personal strategic objectives, as applicable. |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
2024 Plan Payout For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Compensation Committee established Base Financial Goals and personal strategic objectives for each executive officer in March of 2024, which were revised in September of 2024 to adjust the Base Financial Goals in response to the changing economic landscape. Achievement of Base Financial Goals The Base Financial Goals and the payout percentages for the Base Financial Goals of the Bonus Plan for 2024 of Cryoport, Inc., which were applicable to Mr. Shelton, Mr. Stefanovich and Mr. Zecchini, were as follows:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| | Base Financial Goals | | | | | | | | | | | | Revenue | | | | | Adjusted EBITDA | | | | | | | | 2024 Revenue ($000) | | % of Goal Achievement | Payout as % of Target | | 2024 Adj. EBITDA ($000) | | % of Goal Achieved | Payout as % of Target | | Maximum | > | $250.7 | > | 109% | 150% | > | $(6.8) | > | 120% | 150% | | | | $239.2 | | 104% | 125% | | $(7.4) | | 110% | 125% | | Target | | $230.0 | | 100% | 100% | | $(8.4) | | 100% | 100% | | | | $223.1 | | 97% | 75% | | $(9.0) | | 90% | 75% | | Threshold | | $216.2 | | 94% | 50% | | $(10.1) | | 80% | 50% | | | < | $216.2 | < | 94% | 0% | < | $(10.1) | < | 80% | 0% |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
The following table summarizes the actual results against the target Base Financial Goals, percentage of goal achievement and actual payout percentages for the Base Financial Goals of the Bonus Plan for 2024 of Cryoport, Inc., which were applicable to Mr. Shelton, Mr. Stefanovich and Mr. Zecchini:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Financial Goal | Target ($000) | Results ($000) | % of Goal Achievement | Actual Payout as a Percent of Target | | Revenue | $230.0 | $228.4 | 99.3% | 94.2% | | Adjusted EBITDA | $(8.4) | ($15.1) | N/A% | 0% |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Cryoport Inc | 47 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
The Base Financial Goals and the payout percentages for the Base Financial Goals of the Bonus Plan for 2024 of Cryoport Systems, LLC, which were applicable to Dr. Sawicki, were as follows:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| | Base Financial Goals | | | | | | | | | | | | Revenue | | | | | Adjusted EBITDA | | | | | | | | 2024 Revenue ($000) | | % of Goal Achievement | Payout as % of Target | | 2024 Adj. EBITDA ($000) | | % of Goal Achieved | Payout as % of Target | | Maximum | > | $88.9 | > | 109% | 150% | > | $(11.5) | > | 100% | 150% | | | | $84.9 | | 104% | 125% | | $(12.5) | | 100% | 125% | | Target | | $81.6 | | 100% | 100% | | $(13.8) | | 100% | 100% | | | | $79.2 | | 97% | 75% | | $(15.3) | | 90% | 75% | | Threshold | | $76.7 | | 94% | 50% | | $(17.3) | | 80% | 50% | | | < | $76.7 | < | 94% | 0% | < | $(17.3) | < | 80% | 0% |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
The following table summarizes the actual results against the target Base Financial Goals, percentage of goal achievement and actual payout percentages for the Base Financial Goals of the Bonus Plan for 2024 of Cryoport Systems, LLC, which were applicable to Dr. Sawicki:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Financial Goal | Target ($000) | Results ($000) | % of Goal Achievement | Actual Payout as Percent of Target | | Revenue | $81.6 | $76.3 | 93.51% | 0% | | Adjusted EBITDA | $(13.8) | $(15.8) | 87.04% | 68.2% |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
Achievement of Personal Strategic Objectives Our Chief Executive Officer evaluated the NEOs actual performance against their personal strategic objectives and submitted such evaluation to the Compensation Committee. The ultimate determination of achievement of the personal strategic objectives is at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. The performance assessment for the other corporate objectives tied to individual results is not calculated on a line-item basis, but rather represents an overall assessment as to how the executive officer contributed to the success of the Company through and within his area of responsibility. The individual objectives are designed to be difficult to achieve at 100%. The Compensation Committee has assessed the attainment of these objectives by Mr. Stefanovich, Mr. Zecchini and Dr. Sawicki for 2024. As the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Stefanovich is responsible for the Company’s financial strategy, reporting and compliance, financial controls, tax, treasury, legal, and human resources. Mr. Stefanovich’s personal strategic objectives for 2024 included scaling the Company’s global financial organization, improving financial systems the execution on capital structure initiatives, the integration of our acquisitions, continued improvements in the Company’s financial closing and internal
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Cryoport Inc | 48 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
controls processes as well as the continued expansion of both management and external reporting capabilities to enhance business decision making and improve transparency of financial performance. The overall evaluation of achievement of these factors involves both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The Chief Executive Officer evaluated Mr. Stefanovich’s actual performance against his individual objectives, in light of his contributions detailed above, and submitted such evaluation to the Compensation Committee, which determined that the attainment level of the individual objectives for Mr. Stefanovich was 100%. As the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer and CEO of Cryoport Systems, Dr. Sawicki is responsible for oversight of all scientific and technical aspects of the Company and its subsidiaries. Dr. Sawicki’s personal strategic objectives for 2024 included the leadership, further development, financial performance of Cryoport Systems, and continued improvements in the Company’s and Cryoport Systems’ technology advancements to improve competitive positionings. The overall evaluation of achievement of these factors involves both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The Chief Executive Officer evaluated Dr. Sawicki’s actual performance against his individual objectives, in light of his contributions detailed above, and submitted such evaluation to the Compensation Committee, which determined that the attainment level of the individual objectives for Dr. Sawicki was 100%. As the Company’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Mr. Zecchini is responsible for developing the company’s digital strategy, making the company’s technology agile and supportive of the business units’ changing markets, and developing information in a format useful to the future of the Company and its subsidiaries. Mr. Zecchini’s personal strategic objectives for 2024 included assessing talent and making adjustments to support his assigned responsibilities, not to exceed the budgets submitted by the individual business units and map out a technology transition plan for the future. The overall evaluation of achievement of these factors involves both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The Chief Executive Officer evaluated Mr. Zecchini’s actual performance against his individual objectives, in light of his contributions detailed above, and submitted such evaluation to the Compensation Committee, which determined that the attainment level of the individual objectives for Mr. Zecchini was 100%. Calculation of Actual Payouts The resulting individual actual payouts as a percentage of target bonus under the Bonus Plan for 2024 were as follows:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| | Revenue Goal | | Adj. EBITDA Goal | | Personal Strategic Objectives | | Actual Payout as % of Target Bonus | | | Payout as a % of Target | % of Bonus Opportunity | Payout as a % of Target | % of Bonus Opportunity | Payout as a % of Target | % of Bonus Opportunity | | | Jerrell Shelton | 94.2% | 50% | 0.0% | 50% | n/a | n/a | 47.0% | | Robert Stefanovich | 94.2% | 40% | 0.0% | 40% | 100% | 20% | 57.7% |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| Cryoport Inc | 49 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| | Revenue Goal | | Adj. EBITDA Goal | | Personal Strategic Objectives | | Actual Payout as % of Target Bonus | | | Payout as a % of Target | % of Bonus Opportunity | Payout as a % of Target | % of Bonus Opportunity | Payout as a % of Target | % of Bonus Opportunity | | | Mark Sawicki, Ph.D. | 0.0% | 40% | 68.2% | 40% | 100% | 20% | 47.3% | | Edward Zecchini | 94.2% | 40% | 0.0% | 40% | 100% | 20% | 57.7% |
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
The resulting individual actual payouts under the Bonus Plan for 2024 were as follows:
Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses
| | 2024 Bonus Calculations | | | | | | | Target Bonus ($) | Target Bonus as % of Base Salary | Target Bonus ($) | Actual Payout as % of Target | Actual Payout ($) | | Jerrell Shelton | $937,918 | 100% | $937,818 | 47.0% | $441,128 | | Robert Stefanovich | $579,075 | 60% | $347,445 | 57.7% | $200,475 | | Mark Sawicki, Ph.D. | $579,075 | 60% | $347,445 | 47.3 | $164,341 | | Edward Zecchini | $579,075 | 60% | $347,445 | 57.7% | $200,475 |
Long-Term Incentives
Long-Term Incentives The long-term incentive program for the executive officers included a mix of performance-based (premium-priced) stock options and RSRs that are subject to time-based vesting. The performance-based stock options were priced at a premium of 10% above the market price on the date of grant. The Compensation Committee believes that our long-term incentive program is an effective vehicle for the long-term element of compensation, as the awards align individual and team performance with the achievement of the Company’s strategic and financial goals over time, and with stockholders’ interests. Stock options, which have exercise prices equal to at least the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant, reward executive officers only if the stock price increases above the exercise price. The value of RSRs are impacted by both increases and decreases in stock price. The number of equity awards granted has been based on the executive’s position, the executive’s performance in the prior year, the Company’s overall performance, the executive’s potential for continued sustained contributions to our success, and competitive market information. Based on market data provided by FW Cook, the Compensation Committee considers the equity grant levels of the peer group when recommending equity awards for executive officers.
Long-Term Incentives
| Cryoport Inc | 50 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Long-Term Incentives
In 2024, long-term incentive compensation for our Chief Executive Officer comprised of approximately 56% performance-based stock options and 44% RSRs and for our NEOs, other than the Chief Executive Officer, comprised of approximately 53% performance-based stock options and 47% RSRs. The performance-based stock options granted to the executive officers in 2024 have seven-year terms and vest monthly over four years on a pro rata basis. The RSRs granted to the executive officers in 2024 vest annually over four years on a pro rata basis. Vesting of the stock options and RSRs occur only if the executive officer is employed by the Company or an affiliate through each vesting date, unless they meet certain requirements for continued vesting. The 2024 long-term incentive awards are summarized in the table below. The grants were made under the Company’s 2018 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”). The grant date fair value of each award was determined using the Black-Scholes model for stock options and was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant for RSRs. Additional information about equity awards granted in 2024 is provided below in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table.
Long-Term Incentives
| | 2024 Long Term Incentives Grant Value | | | | Name | Stock Options | RSRs | Total | | Jerrell Shelton | $286,376 | $226,197 | $512,573 | | Robert Stefanovich | $96,603 | $87,285 | $183,888 | | Mark Sawicki, Ph.D. | $96,603 | $87,285 | $183,888 | | Edward Zecchini | $181,696 | $158,707 | $340,403 |
Long-Term Incentives
| Additional Policies and Benefits | Equity Grant Policies. Executives’ stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock, which is deemed to be the closing price on the date of grant. Equity grants to executives currently are made pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Plan. Equity grants generally consist of a mix of RSRs and/or stock options. For executive-level hires, the award value is established through arm’s-length negotiation at the time of hire, taking into account the executive’s qualifications, experience and competitive market information for similar positions in the biotechnology industry, as well as the current compensation approach of the Company. Historically, the Compensation Committee approves annual equity awards for employees, including our named executive officers, at its regularly scheduled meeting in March. The Compensation Committee typically approves grants made to new hires, including newly hired executives, on a quarterly basis at regularly scheduled meetings. We do not coordinate equity grants to the timing of releases of material non-public information. During the year ended December 31, 2024, no stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) or similar instruments were granted within four business days before or one business day after the filing of a periodic report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, or the filing or furnishing of a current report on Form 8-K that discloses material nonpublic information. |
Long-Term Incentives
| Cryoport Inc | 51 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Long-Term Incentives
Restrictions on Hedging or Pledging. Our Insider Trading and Tipping Policy prohibits directors and employees (including executive officers) and certain other “Designated Outsiders” from engaging in any transactions involving any hedging or derivatives of Company securities, including trading in futures and derivative securities and engaging in hedging activities relating to Company securities, including exchange traded options, puts, calls, collars, forward sale contracts, equity swaps, exchange funds or other arrangements or instruments designed to hedge or offset decreases in the market value of Company securities. Further, our Insider Trading and Tipping Policy provides that the covered persons described above are prohibited from initiating any transactions that involve pledging any Company securities as collateral for a loan or holding Company securities as security in a margin account after the adoption of the policy. Clawback Policy. Our Board has adopted a clawback policy providing that the Company is required to recover incentive compensation from any covered individual (except where the Board determines, in a manner consistent with the Nasdaq clawback rules, that recovery would be impracticable) if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement of its financial statements due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws. The amount of excess incentive compensation includes excess incentive compensation received by any current or former executive officer (or other employee designated by the Board as covered by the policy) during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement. Stock Ownership Guidelines. Our Board believes that, in order to more closely align the interests of our executive officers with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders, all executive officers should maintain a minimum level of equity interests in the Company’s common stock. Executive officer stock ownership guidelines are based on the value of common stock owned as a multiple of base salary. The guidelines are reviewed annually and revised upward as appropriate to keep pace with competitive and good governance practices. The current multiples are set based upon each officer’s position, as set forth below:
Long-Term Incentives
| Position | Stock Ownership Multiple | | Chief Executive Officer | 6x base salary | | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, EVP, SVP or Subsidiary/Group CEO’s | 3x base salary | | Other Executive Officers | 2x base salary |
Long-Term Incentives
Ownership levels are expected to be achieved within five years of the guideline being applicable. If an executive officer fails to comply with the guidelines, the Compensation Committee may require such executive officer to retain 100% of the after-tax value of all vested equity awards earned under the Company’s executive compensation program until the guideline is achieved. As of the Record Date, all NEOs were either in compliance with the guidelines or had additional time to achieve them.
Long-Term Incentives
| Cryoport Inc | 52 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Long-Term Incentives
Other Benefits. The Company provides certain additional benefits to executive officers that are also generally available to employees, including medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, 401(k) matching contributions; however, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend, or add to these benefits. Post-employment Compensation. The NEOs are entitled to certain severance and change in control benefits, the terms of which are described below under “Executive Compensation—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” While the Compensation Committee believes the severance and change in control benefits are an essential element of the overall executive compensation package and assist the Company in recruiting and retaining talented individuals and aligning the executive’s interests with the best interests of the stockholders, these agreements do not factor into our decisions surrounding the executive’s cash and equity compensation. Tax and Accounting Considerations. In connection with its determination of the various elements of compensation for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee has taken into account the impact of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code on the deductibility of compensation for federal income tax purposes. Section 162(m) limits the deductibility of compensation paid to covered employees to $1 million annually. Notwithstanding Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee has the discretion to design and implement elements of executive compensation that may not be fully deductible for income tax purposes. Compensation Risk Assessment. The Compensation Committee considers and evaluates risks related to the Company’s cash and equity-based compensation programs and practices as well as evaluates whether the Company’s compensation plans encourage participants to take excessive risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Consistent with SEC disclosure requirements, the Compensation Committee has worked with management to assess compensation policies and practices for Company employees and has concluded that such policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, Mr. Zecchini (prior to his resignation from the Board and joining the Company as Senior Vice President – Chief Digital & Technology Officer in February 2024), Mr. Mandalam, Daniel M. Hancock, and Mr. Berman (prior to his passing in February 2025) served on the Compensation Committee. None of our executive officers currently serves, or during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or Compensation Committee.
Long-Term Incentives
| Cryoport Inc | 53 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Long-Term Incentives
| Compensation Committee Report | |
Long-Term Incentives
The Compensation Committee of the Company has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
Long-Term Incentives
| Respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee: | | Ramkumar Mandalam, Ph.D., Chair | | Linda Baddour | | Daniel Hancock |
Long-Term Incentives
| Cryoport Inc | 54 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Long-Term Incentives
| Executive Compensation | |
Long-Term Incentives
| 2024 Summary Compensation Table | The following table contains information with respect to the compensation of our NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 for each of the years during which such individuals were NEOs: |
Long-Term Incentives
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary(1) ($) | Stock Awards(2) ($) | Option Awards(3) ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(4) ($) | All Other Compensation(5) ($) | Total ($) | | Jerrell W. Shelton President and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | 921,169 | 226,197 | 286,376 | 441,128 | — | 1,874,870 | | | 2023 | 865,597 | 585,729 | 785,432 | — | — | 2,236,758 | | | 2022 | 791,562 | 731,213 | 963,359 | — | — | 2,486,134 | | Robert S. Stefanovich Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2024 | 568,734 | 87,285 | 96,603 | 200,475 | 13,800 | 966,897 | | | 2023 | 534,437 | 226,037 | 269,203 | — | 13,200 | 1,042,877 | | | 2022 | 488,750 | 282,180 | 330,123 | — | 12,200 | 1,113,253 | | Mark W. Sawicki, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer | 2024 | 568,739 | 87,285 | 96,603 | 164,341 | 13,800 | 930,768 | | | 2023 | 534,437 | 226,037 | 269,203 | — | 13,200 | 1,042,877 | | | 2022 | 488,750 | 282,180 | 330,123 | — | 12,200 | 1,113,253 | | Edward Zecchini Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer | 2024 | 474,519 | 158,707 | 181,696 | 200,475 | 25,268 | 1,040,665 |
Long-Term Incentives
| 2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table | The following table contains information with respect to each plan-based award granted to our NEOs in 2024 under the Bonus Plan and the 2018 Plan: |
Long-Term Incentives
| Outstanding Equity Awards at FISCAL YEAR-END TABLE | The following table contains information with respect to outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2024: |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table The following table sets forth information with respect to the number of stock options exercised, RSRs that vested and amounts realized by the NEOs in the year ended December 31, 2024.
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Name | Option Awards | | Stock Awards | | | | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($)(1) | Number of shares acquired on vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2) | | Jerrell W. Shelton | 366,667 | 1,516,532 | 21,796 | 357,984 | | Robert Stefanovich | 53,334 | 170,935 | 7,894 | 129,433 | | Mark W. Sawicki, Ph.D. | | | 7,894 | 129,333 | | Edward Zecchini | | | 8,105 | 108,040 |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| (1) The value realized on exercise of an option award is based on the difference between the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option. |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| (2) The value realized on vesting of RSRs is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date. |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Executive Employment Arrangements | Jerrell W. Shelton As of December 31, 2024, under the terms of Mr. Shelton’s employment agreement (as amended at such time, the “Shelton Agreement”) with respect to his employment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Shelton’s annual base salary is an amount determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Shelton’s annual base salary was increased from $893,255 to $937,918 effective May 1, 2024. Mr. Shelton is eligible to participate in the equity incentive plans and cash bonus plans adopted by the Company from time-to-time. He is currently eligible for an incentive bonus under the Bonus Plan targeted at 100% of his annual base salary. | | | Mr. Shelton has agreed not to solicit or encourage or attempt to solicit or encourage any employee of the Company to leave employment with the Company during the term of the Shelton Agreement and for a period of eighteen months following the termination of the Shelton Agreement. The Shelton Agreement expires on February 15, 2027, with automatic annual renewals thereafter unless his employment has earlier terminated or either party provides not less than 180 days’ notice of his or its intention not to renew. Payments due to Mr. Shelton upon a termination of the Shelton Agreement are described below under “Potential Payments On Termination Or Change in Control.” | | | Robert S. Stefanovich As of December 31, 2024, under the terms of Mr. Stefanovich’s employment agreement (as amended at such time, the “Stefanovich Agreement”) with respect to his continued employment as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, Mr. Stefanovich’s annual base salary is an amount determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Stefanovich’s annual base salary was increased |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Cryoport Inc | 59 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| from $551,500 to $579,075 effective May 1, 2024. Mr. Stefanovich is eligible to participate in the equity incentive plans and cash bonus plans adopted by the Company from time-to-time. He is currently eligible for an incentive bonus under the Bonus Plan targeted at 60% of his annual base salary. | | Mr. Stefanovich has agreed not to solicit or encourage or attempt to solicit or encourage any employee of the Company to leave employment with the Company during the term of the Stefanovich Agreement and for a period of eighteen months following the termination of the Stefanovich Agreement. The Stefanovich Agreement expires on February 15, 2027, with automatic annual renewals thereafter unless his employment has earlier terminated or either party provides not less than 180 days’ notice of his or its intention not to renew. Payments due to Mr. Stefanovich upon a termination of the Stefanovich Agreement are described below under “Potential Payments On Termination Or Change in Control.” | | Mark W. Sawicki, Ph.D. As of December 31, 2024, under the terms of Dr. Sawicki’s employment agreement (the “Sawicki Agreement”) with respect to his continued employment as Chief Scientific Officer of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of Cryoport Systems, LLC, Dr. Sawicki’s annual base salary is an amount determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Dr. Sawicki’s annual base salary was increased from $551,500 to $579,075 effective May 1, 2023. Dr. Sawicki is eligible to participate in the equity incentive plans and cash bonus plans adopted by the Company from time-to-time. He is currently eligible for an incentive bonus under the Bonus Plan targeted at 60% of his annual base salary. | | Dr. Sawicki has agreed not to solicit or encourage or attempt to solicit or encourage any employee of the Company to leave employment with the Company during the term of the Sawicki Agreement and for a period of 18 months following the termination of the Sawicki Agreement. The Sawicki Agreement expires on February 15, 2027, with automatic annual renewals thereafter unless his employment has earlier terminated or either party provides not less than 180 days’ notice of his or its intention not to renew. Payments due to Dr. Sawicki upon a termination of the Sawicki Agreement are described below under “Potential Payments On Termination Or Change in Control.” | | Edward Zecchini As of December 31, 2024, under the terms of Mr. Zecchini’s employment agreement (as amended at such time, the “Zecchini Agreement”) with respect to his continued employment as Senior Vice President, Chief Digital and Technology Officer of the Company, Mr. Zecchini’s annual base salary is an amount determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Zecchini’s annual base salary was initially established at $551,500 upon his hiring and was increased to $579,075 effective May 1, 2024. |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Cryoport Inc | 60 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Mr. Zecchini is eligible to participate in the equity incentive plans and cash bonus plans adopted by the Company from time-to-time. He is currently eligible for an incentive bonus under the Bonus Plan targeted at 60% of his annual base salary. | | Mr. Zecchini has agreed not to solicit or encourage or attempt to solicit or encourage any employee of the Company to leave employment with the Company during the term of the Zecchini Agreement and for a period of eighteen months following the termination of the Zecchini Agreement. The Zecchini Agreement expires on February 19, 2027, with automatic annual renewals thereafter unless his employment has earlier terminated or either party provides not less than 180 days’ notice of his or its intention not to renew. Payments due to Mr. Zecchini upon a termination of the Zecchini Agreement are described below under “Potential Payments On Termination Or Change in Control.” |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control | Pursuant to the Shelton Agreement, if Mr. Shelton terminates the Shelton Agreement, he dies, or he is terminated for cause, he will be entitled to all compensation and benefits that he earned through the date of termination. If he is terminated without cause or he terminates for good reason, he will be entitled to continuation of base salary for 24 months following termination and all unvested equity awards as of the date of termination shall become fully vested. All base salary payments would be paid over time in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices. | | | Pursuant to the Stefanovich Agreement, if Mr. Stefanovich terminates the Stefanovich Agreement, he dies, or he is terminated for cause, he will be entitled to all compensation and benefits that he earned through the date of termination. If he is terminated without cause or he terminates for good reason, he will be entitled to continuation of base salary for eighteen months following termination, payment of a portion of the COBRA premiums equal to the same proportion that the Company pays for active employees and their eligible dependents for up to eighteen months following termination, and one-year accelerated vesting of unvested equity awards; provided that, if the termination is in connection with or within twelve months of a change in control, then all unvested equity awards as of the date of termination shall become fully vested. All base salary payments would be paid over time in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices. |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Cryoport Inc | 61 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Pursuant to the Sawicki Agreement, if Dr. Sawicki terminates the Sawicki Agreement, he dies, or he is terminated for cause, he will be entitled to all compensation and benefits that he earned through the date of termination. If he is terminated without cause or he terminates for good reason, he will be entitled to continuation of base salary for eighteen months following termination, payment of a portion of the COBRA premiums equal to the same proportion that the Company pays for active employees and their eligible dependents for up to eighteen months following termination, and one-year accelerated vesting of unvested equity awards; provided that, if the termination is in connection with or within twelve months of a change in control, then all unvested equity awards as of the date of termination shall become fully vested. All base salary payments would be paid over time in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices. | | Pursuant to the Zecchini Agreement, if Mr. Zecchini terminates the Zecchini Agreement, he dies, or he is terminated for cause, he will be entitled to all compensation and benefits that he earned through the date of termination. If he is terminated without cause or he terminates for good reason, he will be entitled to continuation of base salary for eighteen months following termination, payment of a portion of the COBRA premiums equal to the same proportion that the Company pays for active employees and their eligible dependents for up to eighteen months following termination, and one-year accelerated vesting of unvested equity awards; provided that, if the termination is in connection with or within twelve months of a change in control, then all unvested equity awards as of the date of termination shall become fully vested. All base salary payments would be paid over time in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices. | | The 2018 Plan, the Cryoport, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and the Cryoport, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan each provide that if a “change in control” occurs, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to provide in the applicable option agreement that any outstanding awards shall become fully vested and exercisable. | | The Company does not provide any additional payments to the NEOs upon their resignation, termination, retirement, or upon a change in control. |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
| Cryoport Inc | 62 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control The table below reflects the value of compensation and benefits that would become payable to each of the NEOs if the NEO is terminated without cause or terminates for good reason on December 31, 2024. The amounts are based upon the NEO’s compensation as of such date and on the Company’s closing stock price on December 31, 2024 ($7.78).
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control
| Name | Cash Severance | Benefit Continuation | Equity Awards | Total | | Jerrell Shelton | $1,875,836 | $0 | $1,547,006(1) | $3,422,842 | | Robert Stefanovich | $868,613 | $19,673 | $292,963(2) | $1,181,249 | | Mark Sawicki | $868,613 | $22,400 | $291,325(2) | $1,182,338 | | Edward Zecchini | $868,613 | $22,400 | $62,256(2) | $953,269 |
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control
| (1) Represents the intrinsic value of accelerated equity awards, which would be all of the unvested equity awards as of date of termination. If Mr. Shelton retires, he is entitled to continued vesting of his outstanding equity awards if he continues to serve on the Board and if he does not continue to serve on the Board, he is entitled to 18 months accelerated vesting on unvested equity awards as of his retirement date, which would have an intrinsic value of $1,163,790. |
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control
| (2) Represents the intrinsic value of 12 months accelerated vesting of equity awards as of the date of termination. If the NEO is terminated without cause or terminates for good reason in connection with a change in control or within 12 months of a change in control, all of the unvested equity awards as of such date will become fully vested which would have an intrinsic value of $509,082 for Mr. Stefanovich, $547,735 for Dr. Sawicki, and $228,965 for Mr. Zecchini. |
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control
| CEO Pay Ratio | To determine the ratio of the CEO’s annual total compensation to the median annual total compensation of all employees worldwide excluding the CEO, we identified the median employee as of December 31, 2024 using base salary, bonuses, and commissions, as our consistently applied compensation measure calculated for our global employee population as of such date; all foreign currencies were converted to U.S. dollars. The median employee’s 2024 total compensation, as determined in the same manner as “Total Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table, was $45,747. Mr. Shelton’s 2024 total compensation was $1,874,870, resulting in a pay ratio of approximately 41:1. | | | Because the SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their compensation practices, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies may have different employment and compensation practices, different types of workforces and operate in different countries and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates, and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios. |
Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control
| Cryoport Inc | 63 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Pay Versus Performance
Pay Versus Performance As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and certain financial performance of the Company. For further information concerning the Company’s variable pay-for-performance philosophy and how the Company’s aligns executive compensation with the Company’s performance, refer to “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
Pay Versus Performance
| Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(1) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(2) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(3) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(4) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: | | Net Income (Loss) (millions)(7) | Adjusted EBITDA (millions)(8) | | | | | | | Total Stockholder Return(5) | Peer Group Total Stockholder Return(6) | | | | (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (j) | | 2024 | $1,874,870 | $962,516 | $979,443 | $694,812 | $47.27 | $137.15 | ($114.76) | ($15.12) | | 2023 | $2,236,758 | $1,498,472 | $1,042,877 | $788,430 | $94.11 | $141.45 | ($99.59) | ($8.30) | | 2022 | $2,486,134 | ($7,379,573) | $1,113,253 | ($1,715,342) | $105.41 | $144.55 | ($37.33) | $13.70 | | 2021 | $5,132,821 | $9,636,047 | $1,916,321 | $3,122,660 | $359.48 | $190.28 | ($275.53) | $21.24 | | 2020 | $5,484,107 | $15,785,960 | $1,808,535 | $4,502,127 | $266.59 | $135.64 | ($32.69) | ($0.39) |
Pay Versus Performance
| (1) The dollar amounts reported in column (b) are the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Shelton (our Chief Executive Officer) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table. |
Pay Versus Performance
| (2) The dollar amounts reported in column (c) represent the amount of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Shelton, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Shelton during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to Mr. Shelton’s total compensation for each year to determine the compensation actually paid: |
Pay Versus Performance
| Year | Reported Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO | Reported Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year(a) | Equity Award Adjustments(b) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO | | 2024 | $1,874,870 | ($512,573) | ($399,781) | $962,516 | | 2023 | $2,236,758 | ($1,371,161) | $632,875 | $1,498,472 | | 2022 | $2,486,134 | ($1,694,572) | ($8,171,135) | ($7,379,573) | | 2021 | $5,132,821 | ($3,814,383) | $8,317,609 | $9,636,047 | | 2020 | $5,484,107 | ($4,091,607) | $14,393,460 | $15,785,960 |
Pay Versus Performance
| (a) The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. |
Pay Versus Performance
| Cryoport Inc | 64 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Pay Versus Performance
| (b) The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year. The valuation assumptions used to calculate fair values did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of grant. The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments are as follows: |
Pay Versus Performance
| Year | Year End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years | Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year | Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year | Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation | Total Equity Award Adjustments | | 2024 | $203,460 | ($577,750) | $29,990 | ($55,481) | $— | $— | ($399,781) | | 2023 | $775,296 | ($254,012) | $92,209 | $19,382 | $— | $— | $632,875 | | 2022 | $886,794 | ($6,226,290) | $188,681 | ($3,020,320) | $— | $— | ($8,171,135) | | 2021 | $3,619,780 | $2,441,618 | $441,532 | $1,814,679 | $— | $— | $8,317,609 | | 2020 | $10,430,349 | $574,880 | $2,030,949 | $1,357,282 | $— | $— | $14,393,460 |
Pay Versus Performance
| (3) The dollar amounts reported in column (d) represent the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s named executive officers (NEOs) as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable year. The names of each of the NEOs (excluding Mr. Shelton) included for purposes of calculating the average amounts in each applicable year are as follows: (i) for 2024, Robert Stefanovich, Mark Sawicki and Edward Zecchini; (ii) for 2023, 2022 and 2021, Robert Stefanovich and Mark Sawicki; and (iii) for 2020, Robert Stefanovich. |
Pay Versus Performance
| (4) The dollar amounts reported in column (e) represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton), as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton) during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton) for each year to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same methodology described above in Note 2: |
Pay Versus Performance
| Year | Average Reported Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs | Average Reported Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year(a) | Average Equity Award Adjustments(b) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs | | 2024 | $979,443 | ($236,060) | ($48,572) | $694,812 | | 2023 | $1,042,877 | ($495,240) | $240,793 | $788,430 | | 2022 | $1,113,253 | ($612,303) | ($2,216,292) | ($1,715,342) | | 2021 | $1,916,321 | ($1,232,621) | $2,438,960 | $3,122,660 | | 2020 | $1,808,535 | ($1,093,164) | $3,786,756 | $4,502,127 |
Pay Versus Performance
| (a) The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. |
Pay Versus Performance
| Cryoport Inc | 65 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Pay Versus Performance
| (b) The amounts deducted or added in calculating the total average equity award adjustments are as follows: |
Pay Versus Performance
| Year | Average Year End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year | Year over Year Average Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Prior Year | Average Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year | Year over Year Average Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year | Average Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year | Average Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation | Total Average Equity Award Adjustments | | 2024 | $95,153 | ($137,775) | $13,094 | ($19,043) | $— | $— | ($48,572) | | 2023 | $283,952 | ($83,005) | $31,637 | $8,210 | $— | $— | $240,793 | | 2022 | $324,361 | ($1,766,265) | $64,724 | ($839,112) | $— | $— | ($2,216,292) | | 2021 | $1,166,153 | $651,097 | $147,179 | $474,531 | $— | $— | $2,438,960 | | 2020 | $2,781,431 | $137,974 | $541,594 | $325,757 | $— | $— | $3,786,756 |
Pay Versus Performance
| (5) Cumulative TSR is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period. |
Pay Versus Performance
| (6) Represents the weighted peer group TSR, weighted according to the respective companies’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated. The peer group used for this purpose is the following published industry index: S&P 1500 Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry Index. |
Pay Versus Performance
| (7) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net income (loss) reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year. |
Pay Versus Performance
| (8) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss adjusted for net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, acquisition and integration costs, cost reduction initiatives, investment income, unrealized (gain)/loss on investments, foreign currency (gain)/loss, gain on insurance claim, gain on extinguishment of debt, impairment loss, changes in fair value of contingent consideration and charges or gains resulting from non-recurring events, as applicable. |
Pay Versus Performance
| Cryoport Inc | 66 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay Versus Performance Table
Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay Versus Performance Table While the Company utilizes several performance measures to align executive compensation with Company performance, all of those Company measures are not presented in the Pay Versus Performance table. Moreover, the Company generally seeks to incentivize long-term performance, and therefore does not specifically align the Company’s performance measures with compensation that is actually paid (as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K) for a particular year. In accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the Company is providing the following descriptions of the relationships between information presented in the Pay versus Performance table.
Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay Versus Performance Table
| Cryoport Inc | 67 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Cumulative TSR
Compensation Actually Paid and Cumulative TSR As demonstrated by the following graph, the amount of compensation actually paid to Mr. Shelton and the average amount of compensation actually paid to the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton) is generally aligned with the Company’s cumulative TSR over the last five completed fiscal years presented in the graph. The graph also compares the Company’s cumulative TSR to the TSR of our peer group, which we have identified for this purpose as the S&P Composite 1500—Life Sciences Tools and Services. The alignment of compensation actually paid with the Company’s cumulative TSR over the period presented is because a significant portion of the compensation actually paid to our NEOs is comprised of equity awards. As described in more detail in the section “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Company’s executive compensation program is primarily performance-based, for both short-term incentives (annual cash bonuses) and long-term incentives (equity awards).
Compensation Actually Paid and Cumulative TSR
| Cryoport Inc | 68 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Net Loss
Compensation Actually Paid and Net Loss The amount of compensation actually paid to Mr. Shelton and the average amount of compensation actually paid to the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton) is compared to the Company’s net loss over the last five completed fiscal years presented in the following graph.
Compensation Actually Paid and Net Loss
| Cryoport Inc | 69 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA The amount of compensation actually paid to Mr. Shelton and the average amount of compensation actually paid to the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Shelton) is compared to the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA over the five completed fiscal years in the following graph. As described in more detail in the section “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as one of the Base Financial Goals under the Bonus Plan.
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 70 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | Compensation for non-employee directors is governed by the Company’s Compensation Committee. The following summarizes the non-employee director compensation plan in effect during the year ended December 31, 2024. Annual Fees. Non-employee directors are paid an annual cash retainer of $70,000. In addition, non-employee directors in leadership roles will be paid the following amounts. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Chair/Lead Director | $25,000 | | Audit Committee Chair | $20,000 | | Compensation Committee Chair | $15,000 | | Nomination and Governance Committee Chair | $10,000 | | Science and Technology Committee Chair | $24,000 |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Cash fees are paid on a quarterly basis. Annual Grants. Each non-employee director receives, annually: (i) an option grant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $162,500, vesting ratably on a monthly basis over one year, effective as of, with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on, the date of the annual stockholder meeting; and (ii) RSRs valued at $162,500, vesting one year after the date of the annual stockholder meeting. Sign-On Grants. Each newly appointed or elected non-employee director share receives as an inducement, (i) an option grant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $200,000, vesting ratably on a monthly basis over three years, effective as of, and with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on, the date the directorship commences; and (ii) RSRs valued at $200,000, vesting ratably on an annual basis over three years. Upon joining the Board, new directors are also granted a pro-rated annual grant (i.e., for the portion of year served prior to next annual stockholder meeting). All annual and sign-on option grants include a provision that provides that if such director ceases to be a director, vested options shall lapse (to the extent not exercised) on the earlier of: (i) seven years; or (ii) three years after the date the director ceases to be a director of the Company. Stock Ownership Guidelines. Non-employee directors’ stock ownership guidelines are based on the value of the Company’s common stock owned as a multiple of their annual retainers. The guidelines are reviewed annually and revised upward as appropriate to keep pace with competitive and good governance practices.
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 71 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| | Stock Ownership Multiple | | Non-employee Directors | 3x annual retainer |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Ownership levels are expected to be achieved within five years of the guideline being applicable. If a non-employee director fails to comply with the Guidelines, the Compensation Committee may require such non-employee director to retain 100% of the after-tax value of all vested equity awards earned under the Company’s director compensation program until the guideline is achieved. As of the Record Date, all non-employee directors were either in compliance with the guidelines or had additional time to achieve them. The following table sets forth the director compensation of the non-employee directors of the Company during the year ended December 31, 2024. Mr. Shelton, our President and Chief Executive Officer, does not receive compensation for his service on the Board of Directors. Mr. Zecchini retired from the Board of Directors and joined the Company as an executive officer in February 2024. Director fees earned by Mr. Zecchini are reflected under the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Name | Fees Earned Or Paid in Cash ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2) | Option Awards ($)(3) | Total ($) | | Linda Baddour | 77,500 | 162,499 | 162,489 | 402,488 | | Richard Berman(4) | 115,000 | 162,499 | 162,489 | 439,988 | | Daniel Hancock | 70,000 | 162,499 | 162,489 | 394,988 | | Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 94,000 | 162,499 | 162,489 | 418,988 | | Ramkumar Mandalam, Ph.D. | 85,616 | 162,499 | 162,489 | 410,604 | | Ram M. Jagannath(5) | 70,000 | — | — | 70,000 |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (1) Fees earned or paid in cash as shown in this schedule represent payments and accruals for directors’ services earned during the year ended December 31, 2024. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (2) This column represents the aggregate grant date fair value of RSRs granted during the year ended December 31, 2024 calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date multiplied by the number of shares subject to the award. As of December 31, 2024: Mr. Berman held 12,845 unvested RSRs; Dr. Hariri held 12,845 unvested RSRs; Dr. Mandalam held 12,845 unvested RSRs; Mr. Hancock held 12,845 unvested RSRs and Ms. Baddour held 12,845 unvested RSRs. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (3) This column represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2024 calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. For information on the valuation assumptions with respect to the grants made, refer to Note 18 “Stock-Based Compensation” in the consolidated financial statements included in the 2024 Annual Report. As of December 31, 2024: Mr. Berman held unexercised options to purchase 82,486 shares of the Company’s common stock; Dr. Hariri held unexercised options to purchase 248,352 shares of the Company’s common stock; Dr. Mandalam held unexercised options to purchase 282,519 shares of the Company’s common stock Mr. Hancock held unexercised options to purchase 123,352 shares of the Company’s common stock and Ms. Baddour held unexercised option to purchase 65,702 shares of the Company’s common stock. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (4) Mr. Berman passed away in February 2025. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (5) Mr. Jagannath waived his right to receive the equity compensation to which he was entitled as a director of the Company in connection with the annual grant described above for 2024. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 72 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2024 concerning the Company’s common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options or warrants or pursuant to purchases of stock under the Company’s equity compensation plans. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Plan Category | (a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon the Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | (b) Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights(1) | (c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) | | Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders | 6,575,016 | $16.67 | 2,896,124 | | Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders(2) | 227,485 | $7.80 | N/A | | Total | 6,802,474 | $16.38 | 2,896,124 |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (1) The weighted-average exercise price is calculated based solely on the exercise prices of the outstanding options and do not reflect the shares that will be issued upon the vesting of outstanding RSR awards, which have no exercise price. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| (2) From November 5, 2012 through May 7, 2015, options were granted to employees outside of an option plan of which Mr. Shelton has 219,892 shares outstanding and Mr. Stefanovich has 7,566 shares outstanding at December 31, 2024. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 73 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Certain Relationships and Related Transactions | |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Since January 1, 2024, the Company did not have any transactions to which it has been a participant that involved amounts that exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any of the Company’s directors, executive officers or any other “related person” as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than:
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | In connection with the Company’s acquisition of the MVE cryobiological storage business of Chart Industries, Inc., on August 24, 2020, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with Blackstone Freeze Parent L.P. (f/k/a BTO Freeze Parent L.P.) (“Blackstone Freeze Parent”), to issue and sell at closing (the “Private Placement”) for an aggregate purchase price of $275,000,000: (i) 250,000 shares of a newly designated Series C Preferred Stock at a price of $1,000 per share for $250,000,000, and (ii) 675,536 shares of the Company’s common stock for $25,000,000, and prior to the closing of the Private Placement, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund - FD L.P. (“BTO FD” and together with Blackstone Freeze Parent, the “Purchasers”) assumed a portion of Blackstone Freeze Parent’s obligations thereunder. The Company paid the Purchasers $1,000,000 as reimbursement for transactional expenses incurred in connection with the Private Placement at the transaction closing date. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | On February 5, 2021, the Purchasers converted an aggregate of 50,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, which resulted in the issuance of an aggregate of 1,312,860 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Purchasers. In connection with the conversion, the Company also agreed to waive its right under the certificate of designations of the Series C Preferred Stock to redeem up to 50,000 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock prior to the 180-day anniversary of October 1, 2020, the issue date of the Series C Preferred Stock. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, for so long as the Purchaser Parties hold 66.67% of the Series C Preferred Stock issued to them under the Securities Purchase Agreement, Blackstone Freeze Parent will have the right to nominate for election one member to the Board. Blackstone Freeze Parent has designated Ram M. Jagannath as its nominee, and Mr. Jagannath was appointed to the Board on October 1, 2020. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to dividends at the rate of 4.0% per annum, paid-in-kind, accruing daily and paid quarterly in arrears when and if declared by the Board of Directors. Paid in-kind dividends accrued to the Purchasers totaled $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Additionally, for so long as Blackstone Freeze Parent has the right to nominate a director for election to the Board, the Purchasers have agreed to vote all of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock purchased pursuant to the Private Placement or any other shares of common stock owned by the Purchasers (i) in favor of each director nominated or recommended by the Board for election at any such meeting, (ii) against any stockholder nomination for director that is not approved and
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 74 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
recommended by the Board for election at any such meeting, (iii) in favor of the Company’s “say-on-pay” proposal and any proposal by the Company relating to equity compensation that has been approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (or any successor committee, however denominated), (iv) in favor of the Company’s proposal for ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and (v) amendments to organizational documents in a manner that does not have an adverse effect on the holders of Series C Preferred Stock to increase the authorized shares of capital stock. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with Blackstone Freeze Parent, which granted certain customary registration rights with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, the common stock issuable upon conversion thereof and the common stock issued in the Private Placement. Pursuant to these rights, on December 15, 2020, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the SEC to register for resale such securities. As of the Record Date, the Purchasers held (i) 453,396 shares of the Company’s common stock and (ii) 200,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, which were convertible into 6,204,853 shares of the Company’s common stock. For additional information regarding the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Series C Preferred Stock, see the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 25, 2020 and October 1, 2020. The Company has established policies and other procedures regarding approval of transactions between the Company and any employee, officer, director, and certain of their family members and other related persons, including those required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. These policies and procedures are generally not in writing but are evidenced by long standing principles set forth in our Code of Conduct or adhered to by our Board. As set forth in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee reviews and approves all related-party transactions after reviewing such transaction for potential conflicts of interests and improprieties. Accordingly, all such related-party transactions are submitted to the Audit Committee for ongoing review and oversight. We enter into related-party transactions only on terms that we believe are at least as favorable to the Company as those that we could obtain from an unrelated third party.
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 75 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports | |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership in the Company’s securities. Based solely on a review of such reports filed electronically with the SEC and related written representations from reporting persons, the Company believes that during 2024, all Section 16(a) filings applicable to its directors, officers, and 10% stockholders were filed on a timely basis, except for:
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | Jerrell Shelton, two reports reporting two transactions |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | Robert Stefanovich, two reports reporting two transactions |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | Mark Sawicki, two reports reporting two transactions |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| • | Robert Hariri, three reports reporting three transactions |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 76 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Stockholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting | |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
For inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, a stockholder proposal intended for presentation at that meeting, submitted in accordance with the SEC’s Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, must be received by the Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters at 112 Westwood Place, Suite 350, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 on or before December 26, 2025. However, in the event that the Company holds its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders more than 30 days before or 30 days after the one-year anniversary date of the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Company will disclose the new deadline by which stockholder proposals must be received under Item 5 of the Company’s earliest possible Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or, if impracticable, by any means reasonably calculated to inform stockholders. The Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws further provide that a stockholder proposal relating to the nomination of a person for election as a director at the 2026 Annual Meeting or a stockholder proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement, but that a stockholder instead wishes to present directly at the 2026 Annual Meeting, must be submitted in writing and received by the Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters no earlier than February 6, 2026 and no later than March 8, 2026. Any notice received prior February 6, 2026 or later than March 8, 2026 is untimely. However, if the 2026 Annual Meeting is convened more than 60 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the one-year anniversary of the 2025 Annual Meeting, notice by the stockholder of record to be timely must be so received no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day before the 2026 Annual Meeting or (ii) if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a notice by a stockholder of record. In addition to satisfying the deadlines in the advance notice provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must also comply with the additional requirements of Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act to comply with the SEC’s universal proxy rules. Please refer to the advance notice provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws for additional information and requirements regarding stockholder nominations or other stockholder proposals. The Company will not consider any proposal or nomination that is not timely or otherwise does not meet Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws’ and the SEC’s requirements for submitting a proposal or nomination, as applicable. The Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal or nomination that does not comply with these and any other applicable requirements.
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 77 | 2025 Proxy Statement |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Other Matters | |
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
Neither the Board nor the management knows of any other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting, but if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named on the proxy card will vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.
Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted EBITDA
| Cryoport Inc | 78 | 2025 Proxy Statement |